Impending Mate, The Moltiare Collection: Book 2

Prologue

They led her down a dark hall, chained and shackled, keeping her there for all the running she did, not the crime they thought she committed. Innocent until proven guilty and she was innocent to a certain degree.

Almost a year was what they wanted from her for all of the chasing that she made them do, and for that she couldn’t argue. In time she had even turned that year into eight months, eight extenuating months that had her wolf aching for a run.

Running was what she did, and she did it well, but over the past two years she had grown tired. Tired of all the hiding, the worrying, no family or friends to truly turn to, no shoulder to lean on.

She was ready to settle, to start over, to make something out of herself, and she supposed that she had quite a few people to blame for that. Quite a few of those people she hadn’t seen in months. She wondered if they would recognize her when they noticed that there wasn’t a smile on her face, or that the scars had all but disappeared from the time they had found her, bloodied, and broken on the forest floor. Would they recognize her when she showed up on their doorstep?

They didn’t know that she was being released. Not today, and she had timed it so that those who would usually hang around would be gone when she stepped out into the fresh air. They only knew that soon there would be no more running, no more worry, and best of all? No record. The lawyer they found had struck a deal with the judge. Since she had been so young and without proper guidance, they had agreed to pardon her of all crimes if only she served the time without incident.

Other than having to answer a few questions, and listen to the toe-curling stories of her cellmates, keeping the peace had never been the problem. It was knowing that there was someone waiting for her on the other side, and knowing that he wouldn’t be there when she got out, but for that she only had herself to blame.

She had the chance to tell him, to tell all of them, but she chose not to. There was something that she had to do, someone that she had to see before she could go home. After all it wasn’t the authorities she had been running from. It was her past.

Here’s your dress. You can change in that room on the right. The corrections officer placed a small pile of clothing in her hands, Someone will be here to let you out shortly.

The chains and shackles were removed before they closed the door behind her, leaving her hands free to roam the fabric in her hands. She remembered seeing the yellow sundress before, though she had never worn it. Until now it had only been a picture in her mind, something that only appeared in a dream, but a dream that stood with her the more time passed.

Now, as the smooth fabric glided over her midsection and stopped to sway over her knees, it had become a reality more prominent that ever.

Right this way. Another officer opened the door to the room and placed a hand on her arm to lead her down the hall.

The light grew brighter with every step that they took; leaving her to imagine that she was emerging from this pit of darkness feeling new and refreshed, but when the last door opened and the breeze blew past her, her heart ached.

She longed to break out in a run, to let her wolf take over, but that wasn’t an option for her right now. She longed for someone to be there to greet her with open arms and affection, but the only man that stood before her was the same man that had risked his life to save her, even knowing that he could not take full credit for it.

His black slacks had been replaced by a pair of dark wash blue jeans, and his button up shirt was a light shade of green, but she knew that behind the reflective sunglasses, there were the same golden eyes. Under the clothing, there were the same strong arms and kind heart that had fought for her safety and brought her back to her mate.

I thought vampires weren’t supposed to stand in the sun, she began as the officer disappeared back into the building.

We can, it’s just not recommended. He gave a smile as his hands hid inside of his pockets.

Her lips slid into a grin, Darrius.

Allison. He nodded and motioned to the car behind him, Shall we get going then?

She returned the nod, Yes, and thank you.

His eyebrow rose above the rim of his glasses before she went on to explain. You saved my life, without credit, and you came here today out of duty yes, but at my request you’ve kept it secret from my family. I don’t know how to…

Don’t. he ordered softly, You saved my life as well, and I am here because a friend asked me to be here. Duty has nothing to do with it, and though I haven’t always been on the best of terms with your kind, I am civil enough to know when one has earned my respect…

He stopped to open the passenger side door, And friendship.

She smiled as she lowered herself into the seat. Friend was a strong word between a Shifter and a Vampire, and for him to consider her one meant a lot seeing as she had so very few at the moment. Even so, it was strange to think that only months ago they had started meeting each other in silence.

He had been waiting for her to talk, to share with him the secrets of the Pureblood, and at that time she had no plans to do so. She knew that he had expected her to open up just as her sister did, but she no longer worked like that. Even though she thought of him as a friend, at the time she didn’t trust him, in fact she hadn’t trusted most people, but both had changed. Slowly, he shared bits of his story with her, and over time she had decided that she could share some with him.

Darrius… she let out a slow breath as he started the car.

Hm?

She stared out the window as she thought of how she had come to trust him with this, how she had come to trust that he wouldn’t speak of this with anyone that she held so dear, and how he stood patiently by her side during each visitation, waiting for her to give him the truth of her situation.

Somehow she couldn’t bring herself to do it, to revisit both the darkness and the light of her past, but for what? So she didn’t have to worry about her demons knocking on her door? So she wouldn’t have to worry yet again about losing everything? So she wouldn’t have to admit how much her mate meant to her though she had strived to distance herself from him for so long?

Hiding from the past, she thought to herself as she shook her head, I’m tired of hiding.

Part One

Allison 1

So, Jessie began as she smoothed out her dress, How do I look?

Her fair skin looked like faded glass, so beautiful and fragile, while the off white wedding gown rested neatly on her shoulders and flowed to her ankles where bright red sandals had been slipped onto her feet to match her hair. Her hair had been pinned up in a half up-half down hair-do, her bangs swayed to the side as she fluttered her lightly mascaraed eyelashes.

For the umpteenth time, you look beautiful. I sighed and turned to Aaron, who came through the door seconds before hand, Aaron? Doesn’t she look like the most beautiful woman in the world?

It was year since Vlamir and his hybrid pack had come and gone, though some of the damage they had done was everlasting. There were still scars on Marie’s chest, marking the battle for her life that she had just barely pulled through. It had taken her months to get back up to her normal health, months that she was confined to her own two legs, whining about the full moon and wanting to run beneath it. If it hadn’t been for the fact that she broke the film of silence that plagued me, she would have driven me mad long before today.

Then again, she wasn’t the only one that did. Lilyia, a very healthy year and a half old, spent her days running circles around her mother and her mother’s mate. Ethan took each day with a laugh and grin, find a new similarity each day that made Lilyia more his. He was a wonderful father, and Jessie was a more than amazing mother. It made my heart ache, even as I smiled, because when I watched them, I remembered what it was like with my parents. I wished that I had more time to experience that.

Well I’m hardly the person to ask. I’ll always think that you’re the most beautiful woman in the world. Aaron answered as his eyes drifted over the lace covered dress that Jessie had forced me into. There was a moment of darkness in his gaze, something that cried out in hunger although he ignored it, and something that made my skin crawl with delight….I didn’t like it.

You do look absolutely beautiful though, Jess. He began again as he look towards my sister, I just hope you understand that in a situation like this, I’m completely biased.

And not ashamed by it I see. She chuckled and placed a hand over the tip of her stomach and let out a breath.

Aaron moved closer to her side, but she waved him off.

I’m fine. He just hits like a truck. She grinned as she spoke about her son.

Jessie was pregnant for the second time, but glowing as both her wolf and those around her allowed her to enjoy the pregnancy like she didn’t get the chance to with Lilyia.

It was nearly nine months ago that she had found out the news, being spun around as the family and pack cheered her on, and she was expected to give birth at any moment. Ethan and the others had tried to convince her to postpone the wedding because of it, but she shook her head. After all the plans had already been set, and if she went into labor during her wedding, then that’s how it was meant to happen.

Allie, Jessie began in protest when she caught the sour look on my face, he was complimenting you. The least you could do is say thank you.

Thanks, I guess. I offered up a sigh and watched as Aaron’s lips twitched, showing he was upset, but still he smiled as if nothing were wrong. God, I hated it when he did that. He made me feel guilty, like I had done something wrong, but maybe that was what he wanted.

In the two years that I had been here, Aaron and I hadn’t gotten an inch closer, not that I’d let him in if he tried. The fact seemed to be lost on everyone around me that I just was not ready to take on a mate, and I knew that it upset Jessie to see me alone, but I didn’t need another person to wrap me in a tight bundle of affection. Affection and pity were definitely the last things I needed.

But Aaron knew. Somehow he had learned that my need for space and that which I was willing to give only went so far. In the beginning he had tried everything, showered me with gifts, little things that might appeal to a normal teenage girl, and when that didn’t work, he turned to Jessie for advice. After that the gifts began to hit a little closer to home, lightly tugging on the strings of my heart, making it harder and harder to resist, but I did and eventually the gifts stopped all together.

His hopes however, never did.

I don’t know how you do it. Jessie stared at me, yet again baffled by my actions as Aaron left the room, How can you look at someone like that, knowing that he’s special to you and deny him your company. He just wants to be a part of your life, Allie.

I snorted to ignore the pained look in her eyes, Trust me, being a part of my life isn’t a good thing.

How do you know that if you won’t let him in? she asked forcefully as she placed a hand on her back for support, All he wants is a chance Allie, you owe him that, if not for anything else but saving your life.

A ghost of a throb cuffed my calf muscle, and when I closed my eyes, I was momentarily surrounded by the murky blue waters of Melrose Lake. It was true, though my mind could barely register the unwanted connection at the time; Aaron had braved the depths of those waters to help pry me loose from the jaws of a fading hybrid. He had also managed to stifle the shock of recognition in his posture when his skin had touched mine, but not the shock of having to save me again once bad luck had caught up to me.

That would be three times now if we were counting, which I wasn’t. The first being Melrose, the second an aggravated moment that sent me stepping blindly into the street, and the third when I had contemplated searching for the answers at the bottom of a tequila bottle and a container of aspirin. Jessie only knew about the first, Aaron, thankfully, had kept silent about the second, and for the sake of my sanity, no one was going to find out about the last one. Not even Natalius if I could help it.

Now thoroughly frustrated, I shook my head and took the small bouquet of flowers in my hand, Are you ready?

Allie… she warned, telling me that she wouldn’t forget about this until the issue was resolved.

Fine. I ignored the impulse to roll my eyes, I’ll think about it, ok?

While you’re thinking about it then, I had better see you dancing with him. Her words were formed in a stern sentence as she shook her head at my attempt to argue, No buts. It’s my wedding day, and I don’t want anyone giving me grief.

Oh, I wouldn’t dream of that.

She gave me a pointed look at my sarcastic remark, but when she began to face the door, her playful smile matched my own.

Are we ready you head to the wedding? Marie asked as I pulled back the door and led my sister through.

Jessie puffed up her cheeks and ran a nervous hand over her pregnant belly, As ready as I’ll ever be I guess.

Well, that’s not confident at all. She teased as she hurried over to tie the sash on my dress. Her own bridesmaids dress was a neutral brown, a simple design that was held up by one strap on her shoulder and tied with a peach sash that had been embellished with small green gems. I watched as her long blonde hair moved with her elegantly, wondering just how it was that she got to wear a dress that complimented her so well while I was stuck in this lacey monstrosity.

Any tighter and I’ll suffocate before I make it down the aisle. I muttered as she tightened the sash yet again.

Well, she grinned mischievously, we’ve got to show the curves off for Aaron don’t we?

I narrowed my eyes at her as she stepped around to check my make up, Take it off, now!

Marie let out a hoot of laughter as I finished hissing at her.

Don’t tease the viper, love. I heard Natalius approach from the side and watched to see him join the group with an arm around Marie’s waist, She might snap.

Careful when you turn, Nate. I let out a warning, I might bite your heels.

His eyes went from Marie’s to mine and he chuckled. Now there’s a cat fight I’d like to see.

Oh! Jessie called out in excitement as she placed a hand on Marie’s arm, Did Adrian and his pack make it?

I felt my brows rise at the sound of the Alpha’s name. It seemed that after the Cats had risked their lives to fight for and alongside the wolves, the long standing discomfort between the two packs had been mended. Ethan, my sister’s soon to be husband, began welcoming the Cats onto the pack’s land for visits, strengthening the bond between both sides, ensuring a long lasting friendship, and earning Lilyia a new play mate, Nina.

Nina was a sight, a five year old with wild blond hair that streaked around with her best of friends, playing with the smoldering ball of fire that she could create with her hands. Adrian handled her exceptionally well in the beginning, but after meeting Jessie, Natalius and I, his understanding of the mark on his daughter’s hand grew. Now, when his little fireball of a princess found ways to not only play with fire, but make it bigger, he didn’t panic nearly as badly as he did before.

Yes, Marie answered with a nod as she took Jessie’s arm in hers, He and Nina are ready at the venue, mom is there with Lilyia, trying to keep her in her dress, and once we get there Aaron, Nate, and the rest of the boys will join Ethan by the altar. It’s going to be great.

I sure hope so.

Jess! Marie fussed at the tone in Jessie’s voice.

But my sister simply tilted her head back and gave a laugh.

Allison. I felt the whisper in my mind and looked over the pair of them to see that Nate’s eyes had become level with my own.

I’ll meet you guys out at the car. I called to Jessie and Marie as they turned down the hall of the main house.

Where are you going? Jessie pulled her brows together in worry.

To get the baby bag. I rolled my eyes when she still looked confused, You know the one with all of the newborn diapers, and new baby things that we packed just in case your son decided to make his appearance?

Good idea! Marie nodded in approval and waved back at me as I turned away, We’ll go ahead and ride over to the venue and you can ride in with Aaron.

My eyes narrowed again, That wasn’t my idea.

Well, it’ll just have to do. She grinned, Don’t be late though, the wedding can’t start without you two.

You’re evil. Jessie commented, echoing my thoughts, but it only made Marie beam more.

I know, she chirped and began leading Jessie away again.

A low, almost unheard, growl faded in my throat as they disappeared around the corner, but I didn’t bother to speak until I heard the front door click behind the last of the people to leave.

Natalius…. I began and watched as he closed his eyes and let out a breath.

I received a call from somewhere outside of Cheyenne. He started and watched as my shoulders went stiff at the name, An anonymous tipster alerted the authorities to your location. I’m sure it won’t be long before the authorities here are showing your picture around the place.

Anonymous tipster, my ass, I know who it was. The growl came back, louder this time.

And Selene apparently plans on doing more than just flushing you out.

I curled my hands into fists. My past was complicated at best; my life already torn to pieces by a man that had no desire to control himself, but someone else had mussed it up more. That someone also knew that I had what she wanted, the details that she needed, and she wasn’t going to stop until she had her hands on me. Why I had allowed myself to be foolish enough to believe she wouldn’t come looking for me here, I didn’t know.

But my mind had already caught up to Natalius’s words, What do you mean?

She’s managed to find someone that is more than willing to do the work for her. He explained with tight lips, as if the very thought of said person left a crude taste in his mouth. She’s convinced him that Jessie’s son will be born with the mark of Flidias, and that she’s prepared to hand him over if he can deliver you to her.

Vlamir. I felt the need to spit the disgusting taste out of my mouth no sooner than the word left it, That bastard is still crawling around?

Doing more than that. Natalius pursed his lips and stared down the hall, He’s been gathering up another band of followers. I think Selene knows he won’t chance facing Jess again. He might have months before hand, but he doesn’t know whether or not Jess has given birth yet, or whether or not she’s able to shift again. He won’t trust Selene with that type of information.

Why? Is he one of the few that are impervious to her lusting powers? A grimace had me rolling my shoulders back.

Selene was a hybrid. Her Shifter nature gave her an unnatural grace, while her Vampiric ability allowed her to manipulate an emotion within a person’s being and fuel it with lust. She’d have the subject in question panting her name before she was through and telling her everything she needed to know.

It would seem so. He nodded, But he will come here, Allison. He’ll come here and he’ll wait for you like he did with…

He was unable to finish the sentence even as the remnant of a vision flashed through my head of when I watched him attack Marie, sink his teeth into her, and caused her to fight for her life. Still, the memory of it wasn’t what worried me.

What worried me was knowing that Nate’s words were the truth. Vlamir would come here, he’d come here and wait just outside the borders of the land, far enough away that he wouldn’t be seen or smelled. He’d gather the followers he could and wait to ambush me as I ran, but what would he do after that?

Selene’s ability didn’t affect him, and he bore no loyalty to her. What was to stop him from attacking once he was close enough to know Jessie wasn’t a threat and wouldn’t be for another couple of months? We had Adrian here, and the guarantee that his pack would be there to defend us, but Selene had no doubt alerted Vlamir to what he would be up against. I wasn’t willing to bet the safety of anyone in the pack, or the safety of Jessie and her newborn son, that Vlamir wouldn’t try to find a way around it.

What are you thinking Allie? Natalius asked when I remained quiet for longer than he was used to.

I’m thinking I’ll have to give them a chase.

He immediately straightened, showing his discomfort with the idea.

Nate, I’ll have to. I raised my hand to keep him from arguing, "I would have been forced to run before Walter received the warrants for my arrest, but I don’t trust that when Vlamir got his hands on me, if he got his hands on me, he wouldn’t turn around and try for Jessie too. She’s suffered too much, these people have all suffered too much because of him, and I can’t let that happen again."

And what if he comes here anyway? If he finds that you’re not here and he decides to attack?

I shook my head, He won’t. Selene will know when I’ve left this town, and she’ll tell him. She’ll tell him some place she thinks I’ll go and he’ll wait for me there, mostly to prove her wrong.

I felt my hands beginning to shake. Fear and sadness beginning to break though the shell that I hid behind, something I only allowed to happen around Natalius.

Even if Vlamir tried, and he failed again… I held back the lump in my throat, If I stayed here, the next person that would come after me would be Selene herself. She’d bring three times the hybrids that we have shifters to defend ourselves with and there wouldn’t be anyone left. The children wouldn’t be spared, Jessie would possibly be turned, simply because of her ability, and there are people here that I don’t want to lose.

I ignored the fact that Aaron might be one of them, even as Natalius looked over me with consideration. He might be only a handful of years older than me, but from the time that he had found me, curled up, crying, and covered dry specs of mud, he had cared for me like a father. He watched over me, gave me guidance, and on my worst nights when I had no one else to turn to, he held me while my emotions unraveled.

I knew that I wouldn’t be able to stop him from worrying about me anymore than I’d be able to stop Jessie’s worry once she found out I was gone, but I loved the pair of them. Regrettably, I was even falling in love with these people, and I knew because of that, I’d have to go.

I have to Nate. My voice came in a whisper, I’ll call when I can to let you all know I’m alright, but after the wedding, I need to already be gone.

He stepped forward and pulled me into a hug, using his warmth to soothe my emotions just as he did with the hand brushing against my hair, I understand.

Aaron 2

Ethan, if you do that anymore, I’m going to have to tape your hands to your sides. I complained as I watched Ethan nervously rub his palms together for the fifteenth time in a row.

You’re kidding me, right? he turned long enough to raise a brow before turning to watch the guests gather in the pews, I’m about to be married, a father of two, and you want me to be calm?

I’m not asking you to be calm, I corrected and pointed towards his hands as he did it again, but that is annoying the hell out of me.

His mouth twisted in displeasure as he stopped the motion and forced himself to bury his hands in his pockets.

Allie say something again?

Yeah. I frowned down the aisle and towards the door the girls had gathered behind, preparing to make their entrance. The truth was Allie was always saying something that upset me. Saying or doing, anyhow, but the recent incident to affect me had been a combination of both.

I’m surprised you’re not being you, and weaseling your way in.

A chuckle left my lips that time. There was a time when I would have tried that, when it would have worked on the girls I smiled at or went after, but that was before Allison. With the way she walked, smiled, or pushed her hair back and wrinkled her nose when she was irritated with me, she was different. She was different in a way that took my breath away and scattered my thoughts.

The whole concept of mates was new to me, even after seeing Jess and Ethan together for so long. It was confusing, wonderful, and hell if it didn’t frustrate me at times. I suppose that some part of me had expected her to be as willing to accept me as Jess had been to Ethan, but I should have known better. There was a shadow in Allison’s eyes, a certain kind of sadness that had been heavier than what we had seen in Jess’s eyes when she came here, and it was with her everywhere she went.

I had seen Jess ask her about it once, a while back, but even to the only family she had left, she wouldn’t answer. She forced a smile onto her face and asked to hold Lilyia again, ignoring the way her sister cried silently for her.

It’s a little more complicated than that. I turned away as his hands slipped from his pockets again, not really wanting to see him rub his hands together for another time.

Since when have complications stopped you? He teased and punched my shoulder lightly, The Aaron I know loves a challenge, or has he lost his touch?

I laughed and shook my head, I never lose my touch. Even when I lay in wait, I’m just looking for an opening.

He shrugged, Think of what you haven’t done yet.

Just moments before you get married, you decide to give me relationship advice?

It’s kept me from pressing my palms together.

Continue then.

Whatever you two are doing, it’ll have to wait. Ethan’s mother, Sarah, cut into the conversation quickly. Her hair had been pinned up into a neat bun while strands of it had been curled and left to frame her face, It’s time to start.

Ma! Ethan gave an exasperated sigh as she fussed with his tux again.

Oh hush. It’s not every day that my son gets married. I want you to look presentable.

Ethan rolled his eyes as I tried and failed to stifle a laugh. His mother immediately raised a finger and narrowed her eyes in my direction.

Don’t start Aaron, or you’ll be next.

I shut my mouth immediately as the music began to play, and I watched Sarah jump at the sound of it before hurrying to her seat. When I looked up again, the doors to the aisle were opening to the small group behind them.

Willis and another member of the pack stepped aside as the ushers once the doors went as far as they would go. Behind them Lilyia and Nina clung to the small basket of flowers as they walked awkwardly down the aisle. I couldn’t help the chuckle that came as they each took a fistful of flower petals, as Marie had shown them, and dumped them onto the church’s hardwood floors. Their peach colored dresses almost identical to the light orange flowers and earth toned ribbons that decorated the chapel.

The bridesmaids were different. Jen led the way first in a strapless brown gown that came to her knees, only slightly longer than the halter gown that Gina wore. Gina’s cheeks burned red as she gave a wide smile and I tried to ignore the envy that burned within me as she met Willis’s eyes and giggled. Why, I thought, couldn’t I at least have that with Allison? Why did I have to be pained with the knowledge that the mate’s pull could very well tear me apart before she allowed me to tell her how I felt.

I wondered if she felt it too, or even noticed the tension in the air when we were close. My level of self-control had already been commended by several others in the pack who noticed the added spur in my attitude. The days of being an eager teen who was ready to laugh, smile, and fall in love were over. Even baseball had lost its appeal, although the level at which I played never dropped.

As for Allison…I heard